With Awaab’s Law now in place, landlords in England’s social housing sector face new legal duties to promptly address damp and mould within their properties.
The legislation stipulates that landlords must start investigations within ten working days, finish repairs within five working days, and respond within 24 hours when there is an urgent health concern.
Named in tribute to Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old who tragically died in 2020 due to persistent mould in his home, the law is widely viewed as a long-overdue measure to protect tenants’ wellbeing.
Despite this progress, AirFresh Mould Removal warns that the law lacks provisions to ensure that remediation is carried out by trained and competent specialists. Without this, the risk of inadequate or unsafe mould removal may increase across the sector.
“Urgency Without Effectiveness Is False Reassurance”
“Awaab’s Law rightly forces landlords to act fast – but speed means nothing if the work isn’t done properly,” says Jo, Director at AirFresh Mould Removal. “We’re already seeing companies calling themselves ‘mould specialists’ with no real training or understanding of the science behind remediation. Urgency without effectiveness is false reassurance. True safety means treating the cause of mould, not just the visible symptoms.”
AirFresh warns that poorly handled mould remediation can be as dangerous as inaction – spreading spores, worsening contamination, or causing respiratory harm through improper chemical use.
AirFresh is calling on the government, housing associations, and local authorities to go further by embedding IICRC S520, the global Standard for Professional Mold Remediation, into UK practice guidelines.
The IICRC S520 standard sets out rigorous procedures for identifying moisture sources, containing contaminated areas, using HEPA filtration, following PPE and health & safety protocols, and verifying that affected areas are truly safe before re-occupation.
“Painting over mould isn’t remediation – it’s concealment,” says Jo. “The IICRC S520 standard exists to protect health and ensure long-term results. The UK needs to adopt it across social housing and the wider property sector if we’re serious about ending this problem for good.
Since Awaab’s death, awareness of mould as a housing hazard has increased dramatically – but AirFresh says enforcement must extend beyond response times to technical performance and verification.
The company urges local authorities and housing providers to vet contractors carefully, checking qualifications, containment procedures, and health & safety compliance before work begins.
“Right now, there’s no regulation preventing untrained firms from calling themselves ‘mould specialists’,” Jo adds. “That’s a loophole that puts lives at risk. We want to see mandatory training and certification brought in line with recognised international standards.”
